Automatic weighing mechanism



Dec 8i I J. W. WESLEY AUTOMATIC WEIGHNG MECHANISM Filed'vlaroh 17, 1924J. W. WESLEY AUTOMATI C WEIGHING MECHANISM Filed March 17. 1924 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Die-e. 8, lQZti.

Ulill'lfllll JOHN V5.7'. WESLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC 'WEIGHING MECHANISM.

Application filed. March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,632.

To ZZ whom t may concer/n.: y

Be it known that l, Jol-IN W. VVEsLnY, a citizen of the United States,and a. resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois,have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automaticllileighing Mechanism, ot which the following is :i specication.

The invention relates to Weighing inachines, and particularly tomachines oi this character which are ot the dial type.

The invention has as its principal object the provision of aconstruction which Will accurately measure and define the Weight of anobject so that the Weight indicated upon the dial corresponds with theactual Weight of the object being measured.

It is Well known that scales or Weighing machines oi' the dial type willto a certain degree indicate the exact Weight of the object beingmeasured, but will vary as the Weight increases so that the Weightindicated upon the dial is not the exact Weight of said object.

lt is therefore a feature oit the invention to provide a constructionwhich will acc-uratcly measure and define various weights to the fullextent of the` indications,v provided upon said dial Without fluctuationin the accuracy thereof the. Weight increases.

lt is another object .of the invention to provide a means auxiliary tothe main Weighing mechanism which is capable of heing successivelybrought into cooperation with the main Weighing mechanism to therebyassisJ said main Weighing mechanism and augment thel resistance offeredthereby to the Weight of the ohjcct being measured.

lt is a further object to provide an arrangement capab e of minuteadjustment and 1which is simple in construction and not liable tovariation and inaccuracy due to Wear and use.

lt is an additional object to provide a structure 1which may be adjustedfor acouracy should the object `upon which the scale is placed beslightly inclined or out of alignnient, the latter occasionally cans-ingthe ini- `froper operation of the machine.

lt is another yobject to provide a construction associated with theindicator for insuringthe proper position of the indicator should thedevice be placed upon a support such as that just described. Y

lt is a further feature of the invention to combine means capable of'accomplishing the above enumerated and other objects with a mechanismwhich includes Weights for measuring the Weight of an object.

In addition it is an object to provide an arrangement whereby saidweights and other elements ot the structure such as the platiorm arelocked against movement While being shipped or transported from oneplace to another.

The invention has these and other objects all of which will be morereadily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, it being obvious however that changes and modifications may beresorted to Without departing from the spirit of the appended claimsforming a part here-of.

In the draWings,-

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a mechanism for accomplishing theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing some kot the elements inchanged positions. and

Fig. 4l is an enlarged detail View partially in section of a portion ofthe structures shown in Figs. 1, 2 and ,3.

ln the particular embodiment of the invention as illustrated in thedrawings, the use of a main 'frame 10 is contemplated. This frame iscomposed of the uprights 11 and 12 which are joined together at .theiropposite ends by the respective connecting elements 13 and 14. Theportions 11 and 12 are each provided With the inwardly projectingelements 15, 16, 17 and 18, which provide supports for certain shaftsyhereinafter to be explained. A dial 19 is secured to the frame 1() andan indicator 20 is' mounted upon the indicator shaft 21 which isarranged centrally with respect tothe dial. This indicator is designedto be actuated by a Weight Abeing applied to the platform 21a of thescale, which platform is connected to .the bar 4E22 having thehook-shaped por-v tion 23 which in turn Yengages, the hooksha-pedportion "24: 4of' a rod 2,5. This rod 25 is connected with a movabletrame generally designated 26 which extends upwardly towards the upperend ci the trame l() and has connected to its uppermost end a member 27,the latter being pivoted at 28 and connected through the medium ot theU-shaped portion 29 to the upper end ot the traine 26.

This member 27 may be termed an equaliZer and has one end of the ribbons30 and 3l respectively secured thereto. These ribbons have theiropposite ends respectii'ely attached to the periphery of the dro Y, 32and 33 and said drums are journalcd 'i the inwardly projecting elementssuch as i5, i6, 17 and 18, one ot the drums beingv interposed betweenone of the pairs elements such as l5 and 16. The shafts 34 and 35 ofthese drums are provided with a lnilr'e edge such as which is arrangedin recesses provided in the elements l5, i6, i7 and 18. The drums 32 and3i are respectively provided with an arin and having weights 39 providedat their opposite or i''ree extremity. The traine 26 carries a rack andframe generally designated 40, the rack being in engagement with thepinion 4l provided upon the indicator shaft 2l. y

From the. foregoing explanation of the structure thus far explained, itis evident that when the platform lia-r 22 i .moved downwardly, thismovement will be transmitted to the rack such as 40 throi 'li the mediumof the Ytraine 26 to which the rack and traine is connected, and willcause the indicator 2O to be actuated to indicate the weight applied tothe platform 2ln and bar 22. It is also evident that when the action just described takes place that, by virtue ot he connection between the'frame 26 and the drums 32 and 33, the weights 39 respectively providedupon opposite ends ot the aims 37 and 38, will be caused to moveoutwardly with relation to the frame and may assume a position such asillustrated in Fig. 3. Tt has been found hat when a. weight is appliedto the; platform in excess of approximately halt ci the weight indicatedupon the dial such as 19, any weight beyond this point on the dial willbe inaccurately measured. To overcome this inaccuracy, a means isprovided which cooperates with the weighted arms 37 and 38 and theirassociated mechanism, which means includes the flexible elements 42 and43 which entend from the ends of the arms 37 and 38 and are'respectively connected to the weighted elements 44 and 55 which arerespectively pivotally connected at 46 and 47 to the U-shaped supports48 and 49, it being understood that the cnds of the elements 44 and 45are arranged in the space provided by these U-shapedsupports 48 and 49as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

From an inspection of Fig. 2, it 1s evident that the weighted elements44 and 45 are arranged upon opposite sides of the frame 26, and are inspaced relation thereto so that no interference will occur between themduring their movement. The flexible elements 42 and 43 may, when founddesirable or necessary, be provided with one or more rela.- tively smallweights 50 or 5l, from which it can be seen that the weights such as 39are provided with auxiliary means which may be successively brought intooperation to increase the weight resisting` qualities of the weightedelements or arms 37 and 38 and will thereby produce a mechanism whichwill accurately measure the weight ci an object to the full extent otthe indications provided upon the dial.

The weighted elements 44 and 45 are each provided with one or more.means such as the eyelets 52 to allow the end of thel flexible elements42 and 43 to be attached at its points relative to the weighted elements44 and 45, which will permit ot adjustments' to further assist ingaining the desired accuracy of the scale or weighing machine.

A means is provided for the purpose ot maintaining the indicator 20 inits proper position when indicating Zero, which indicator might bethrown out of plumb should the scale be placed upon a surface which isnot absolutely horizontal. This means, most clearly shown in Fig. 4,includes the racl',r 40 which is pivoted at 53 to the frame 26 and hasthe element 54 pivotally connected there' to at 55. This element 54 isU-shaped in cross-section and surrounds the indicator shaft 2l and thepinion 4l and has the flat spring 56 secured thereto, one end of whichengages the -free end of the rack 40 and is adapted to be adjustedthrough the medium Ot the adiusting screw 57 one end of which searsagainst that end of the spring 56 which engages the tree end ot the rack40, from which it can be seen that, should the scale bc tilted to oneside or the other out oi' the vertical, the frame 54 will be moved andby virtue oi the connection between the rack and the pinion, thismovement of the frame 54 will be transmitted to the rack and pinion andwill therefore cause the indicator 2O to be moved and assume its properZero position. The member 54 being pivoted at to the rack 40 and belowthe pivot 53 of the rack, and depending from the pivot and also being ofmore or less weight, will act to at all times maintain the rack inassociated relation with the pinion, regardless of the position that theframe 26 may be caused to assume, due to the inclination oi" the maintraine, the U-shaped leat' spring 56 will assist in maintaining the rackin cooperative relation to the pinion 4l even though the scale is jarredor otherwise moved.

A'nieaiis is provided for locking the arms 37 and 38 the platform 21aand bar 22 against outward movement relative to the frame 10 whentransported from one place to another. This means includes the rotatablesegmental elements 56, 59, 60 and 6l clearly shown in Fig. l. Thestructure for releasably locking the arms 37 and 38 and their associatedmechanism against outward movement with relation to the framecorresponding in construction and oiiieration with the other, anexplanation et' one will suffice for an understanding of both. For theaccomplishment of this object, a wire or other flexible element 62 hasone end thereof connected to the periphery of an element such as 58 andentendsl upwardly and is connected to a member 63 which is slidablymounted upon the rods 64 and 65 which are in turn mounted upon the mainframe l0.

The cross member 63 extends trom one of the rods 64 andG to the otherand is maintained in its uppermost position by means of coil springs 66which are arranged upon the rods and react between the movable crossmember 63 and an abutment collar 67. This will maintain the cross'member63 in an upper position and permit the weighted arms 37 and 36 tofunction without interference. When the segmental parts 58 and 61 arerotated in a contra-clockwise direction somewhat beyond 180 degrees bymeans of the finger piece 68, the connection 69 between the ileiriblemember 62 and the segmental part such as 58, will be brought to a pointto the right of the center of the segmental part 56 as viewed from Fig.2, which will maintain the bar 63 in a locked and lowered position,which will prevent the weighted arms 3'? and 38 from moving outwardly.The mechanisin for engaging the -platform bar 22 is similar to that justydescribed and includes the ents and 60, the member 7G which connectedto the elements 59 and 6() through the medium of the cords 71.-? l, thestructure being,l designed to permit the bar 'T0 to engage the underside of the platform bar 22 and prevent the depression of the platformof the scale.

These elements 5S, 5f), 60 and 6l are all mounted upon the shaft 72 andtherefore an operation of the er piece will cause the locking mechanismfor the weighted elements and the form bar to he actuatedsimultaneously. rom the foregoing description it is manit that anarrangement is provided whereby as the weighted arms 37 and 3S are movedoutwardly and by weight applied to the platform ot the scale, theauxiliary weights such as 50, 51 and 1M; are brought into consecutiveoperation, which will increase the weight resisting qualities of theweighted arms 37 and 3S and thereby insure a more a uint-i measurementof the article to be weighed. lt is further evident that a means .isprovided for permitting an adjustment to insure the positioning of theindicator 2O to its zero position regardless of the inclination at whichthe scale is supported. It is also evident that a means is provided Vforlocking the weighted arms 3? and 38 and the platform of the scaleagainst movement during the period of transportation or movement of thescale from one point or one location to another.

it will be understood that the weights 5() and 5l maj,Y be ot' differentweights and that as each of the same is provided at its upper end with ahook fil, theyy can be readily attached to or detached from the iiezihleconiieetions or Ll-, nient effected by the use of the said auxiliaryweights to ybe minute and accurate.

By employing he frame 26, rack 320 pivoted thereto, and the framepivoted to said rack and arranged and operating as above set D forth, itis manifest that the rack will be constantly held in engagement with.the `pinion il and that in the event of sudden jars such as occurs bycarelessly placing articles on the platform 21a, Idisplacement of therack with respect to the pinion will be prevented as the frame 54'sstrides the pinion and is so positioned that it will strike the shaft 21before the teeth of the rack can be thrown out of mesh with those of thepinion. further obvious that by this arrangement a uniform tension orco-operation of the rack i0 with the pinion will be attained.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what l. claim as new and desire to secure by reaches a certain position,said coopera-ting means including a plurality of weights of differentweights which are successively brought into operation upon the action ofthe second mentioned means to control the actuation of said indicator.

2. In a weighing machine, the combination of a platform, an indicator,means for actuating` the indicator when an object is arranged upon theplatform, and means including a 4pivoted weight which is operable to apredetermined position and weights which are brought into operationafter said pivoted weight reaches said predetermined position, saidweights being to control the actuation of the indicator.

3. In a weighing machine, the combination of a platform, an indicator,means for actuating the indicator when. an object is arrange-d upon theplatform, and means for thus enaoling the a'djusti' lit is successivelycaused to cooperate with the piifoted weight lil" controlling theactuation of the first mentioned means including a pivoted Weight andWeights of different weights which are successively caused to cooperatewith the pivoted weight to control the actuation of the indicator, saidpivoted Weights being operable to a predetermined position independentlyof sai-d second mentioned Weights.

Ll. In a Weighing machine, the combination of a platform, an indicator,means for actuating the indicator when an object is arranged upon theplatform, and means for controlling the actuation of the lirst mentionedmeans including a pivoted Weight for measuring the weight of oliiects ofa certain Weight and Weights which are connected to the pivoted weightand are successively caused to cooperate With the pivoted Weight tocontrol the actuation of the indicator, to measure the Weight of objectsbeyond said above mentioned Weight.

5. In a Weighing machine, the combination of a platform, an indicator',means for actuating the indicator when an object is arranged upon theplatform, and means for controlling the actuation of the first mentionedmeans and indicator, said means for controlling the actuation of thefirst mentioned means including a plurality of weights which areconnected with each other andiwhich are. successively brought intooperation to control the actuation of said indicator after saidindicator has been moved to indicate a certain Weight.

6. In a Weighing machine, the combination of a platform, an indicator,means for actuating the indicator when an object is arranged upon theplatform, and means for controllingy the actuation of the Ifirstmentioned means and indicator, said means for controlling the actuationof the first mentioned means including a plurality of vweights which areconnected with each other by a fiexible element and Which aresuccessively brought into operation to control the actuation of saidindicator, after the indicator has been moved a predetermined distance.

7. In a Weighing machine, the combination of an indicator, a platform,means for actuating the indicator when an object is arranged upon theplatform, and means for controlling the actuation of the first mentionedmea-ns and the indicator, Said means for controlling the actuation ofthe first mentioned means including pivoted Weighted elements of acertain Weight and means auxiliary to said pivoted Weighted elements forincreasing the action of said pivoted Weighted elements as the Weight ofthe object being measured increases, said Weighted elements beingmovable to a certain position independently of said auxiliary means.

8. In a Weighing machine, the combination of an indicator, a platform,means for actuating the indicator when an object is arranged upon theplatform, and means for coiitrolling the actuation of the firstmentioned means and the indicator, said means for controlling theactuation of the firstinentioned means including pivoted Weightedelements of a certain Weight and means auxiliary to said pivotedWeighted elements for successively increasing the action of said pivotedelements as the Weight of the object being n easured increases, saidpivoted weighted elements being movable to a certain posit-ionindependently of said auxiliary means.

Si. In a weighing machine, the combination of an indicator, a platform,means for actuating the indicator when an object isk arranged upon theplatform, and means for controlling the actuation of the first mentionedmeans and the indicator, said means for.' controlling the actuation ofthe first mentioned means including pivoted Weightl elements and meansauxiliary to said pivoted Weighted elements for increasing the action ofsaid pivoted Weighted elements as the weight of the object beingmeasured increases, a flexible element secured to the pivoted Weightedelements, said auxiliary means being secured to said flexible element.

l0. In a Weighing machine, the combination of an indicator, a platform,means for actuating the indicator When an object is arranged upon theplatform, and means for controlling the actuation of the first mentionedmeans and the indicator, said means for controlling the` actuation ofthe first mentioned means including pivoted elements and means auxiliaryto said pivoted elements for successively increasing the action of saidpivoted elements as the Weight of the object being measured increases, aflexible element secured to the pivoted element, said auxiliary meansbeing secured to said flexible element, and including a pivoted elementwhich is connected to the flexible element.

ll. In a Weighing machine, the combination of a platform With a pivotedindicator and means for actuating the indicator When an object isarranged upon the platform, said means including means for maintainingthe indicator at a Zero position when the main frame is inclined fromthe vertical, said means including a pivoted rack and a pivoted membercarried by said rack.

12. In a Weighing machine, the combination of a platform with a pivotedindicator and means for actuating the indicator When an object isarranged upon the platform, said means including means for maintainingthe indicator at a zero position When the main frame is inclined fromthe vertical, said means including a pivoted rack and another membercarried by said rack, said rack and member being movable With re spect"lic cach other.

in a weighing machine, the combina- 'iien of a piat'i'orin with apivoted indicator and means for actuating the indicator when an objectis arranged upon the platform, said means including means formaintaining the indicator at a zero position When the main 'frame isinclined from the vertical,

.Said means including a pi'voted rack and 10 another member carried bysaid rack, said ra k and member being movable with respect to eachother, and a yieldable connection between said rack and member.

JOHN W. W'ESLEY.

